MrGuy Boekenstein, President of the Australia Indonesia Association (AIA) today announced the names of the Finalists in the “Australia Indonesia Awards” program.

The concept of the “Australia Indonesia Awards” program was inspired by the “Australian of the Year” awards, in that they recognize ordinary Australians (our awards also include Indonesians) who are doing extraordinary things in various fields of activity. The Australia Indonesia Awards recognise and honour those Australians and Indonesians who through their activities are contributing to the friendship and understanding between Indonesians and Australians. Politicians from both sides of politics have spoken of the underlying strength of the relations between Australia and Indonesia as being the “people to people” relations. People nominated for the Australia Indonesia Awards are an integral part of these “people to people” relations.

Each year, nominations are called for in 3 categories. Since the inaugural awards in 2014, nominations have been called for in Art, Education, Media, Business, Humanitarian, Community involvement, Resources, Sport, and Travel/tourism. This year, nominations were called for in the categories of Food, Culture, and Research. Nominations closed in November2017, and have been reviewed by an independent Selection Panel, chaired by Mr Bill Farmer AO, a former Ambassador to Indonesia. The Panel have selected the three finalists in each category, and will announce the winners in each category at the Awards Presentation Night to be held in Sydney on Saturday 10 March 2018.

The finalists include Australians and Indonesians, and come from all over Australia and Indonesia. They range from people with a lifetime involvement, to those who are much younger but have been an inspiration to others.

Congratulations to the finalists and to all the nominees. And a big “thank you” to those people who nominated them for the awards.